Anyone using fritz bitz headers?

[AndyEh]

I'm looking at upgrading my exhaust system before my car is back on the road. I've been weighing up my options for exhaust headers and wanting to know if anyone has used the headers available for the m20 323i from fritz bitz and what they thought of them?

I'm having trouble finding something to fit my car, given the lack of space with the power steering box.

[OLD MAN]

I have no idea which headers are fritz bitz, these are what we have on the track car. They were really short three into one's for duel exhaust. I changed out the collectors for some local made pieces and then added 22" tubing down to around the middle of the tranny area of the engine.

[FranzE21]

http://www.motorsportsdownunder.com/catalog/i3.html Heres what I would grab in Australia. I doubt you'd get a better off the shelf set for that price!

[OLD MAN]

OUCH!! And we think $1,200.00 US is a lot for headers in the US.

Hal that is close to what I paid for the track CAR when I bought it - US dollars that is.

[Kershaw]

http://www.motorsportsdownunder.com/catalog/i3.html Heres what I would grab in Australia. I doubt you'd get a better off the shelf set for that price!

$2500? That's nuts! Ebay e30 headers are like $150. I imagine you can throw a few hundred dollars into modifying the tubing to fit the e21 if that becomes a problem and still come out far far ahead. After some quick googling, it appears that e30 shorty headers are no problem and e30 long tubes are hit and miss.

[OLD MAN]

Not sure how much of an issue it is but having right hand drive cars with the excessive brake repositioning may have an effect.

[Kershaw]

I totally forgot about RHD. You're right, that may present an additional complication.

[AndyEh]

Yeah .. $2500 is what I paid for both 323i's haha .. don't really want to spend that much .. yet. The fritz bitz manifold that I am looking at are these ..http://www.fritzsbits.co.uk/shop/pro...21-m20-engine/ .. supposed to be based on the hartge design. Landed here for about .. $1000 aud.

Yep .. there is definitely not alot of room to work with, especially once the steering is installed again. http://imgur.com/Rr05a5g

[OLD MAN]

2500 Australian Dollar equals 1954.00 US Dollars

Still a lot! People were shocked when I said I was thinking on making M10 headers that might cost $650.00. But hay they can also buy a set of Ebay Chinese headers every couple of years or so.

[gsumzzz]

old man didn't you dyno your system and show no real gain over stock plumbing for a stock engine? your system is miles ahead in quality and longevity (for a great value). but headers on a m10 is like tits on a bull unless you have a very hot setup for racing.

[OLD MAN]

Actually we dynoed the engine 208,000 miles on it and gained about 3hp and 3 ftlbs of torque at the wheels with no tuning to engine. I have to agree that 3hp is not a lot but the engine was shock with 208,000 miles on it.

I think headers would help but not on a engine with lots of miles and no work to it. On a fresh engine with new everything and some tuning work I feel they would be a must to get all of the power out of the engine work.

The biggest gain with the exhaust system I noticed was on the power band/curve. Engine fall off at 5,600 or so with stock exhaust an hour later with the new system it fall off at around 6,300 the extra rpm comes in handy when auto-xing.

I have to agree that putting headers on a tired engine is a waste of money.

[AndyEh]

I've just rebuilt my m20b23, not that it needed it - it's only done 135,000kms. But it is stock so far.

It's making me nervous no one seems to have them fitted. Turns out the motorsport downunder ones are on sale for $900aud as well ..

[FranzE21]

^ Thats what I was about to say, they are 900 dollars AUD, so 950 with postage I to anywhere in Australia. Same coin for a muuuch better design. I'd pair that up with a nice mandrel 2.5" system. You'll likely see quite a power bump.